Keep the fight for GE15 clean and positive, say groups

PETALING JAYA: A coalition of NGOs and civil society groups have come together to monitor hate speech in the run-up to the 15th General Election (GE15) to ensure clean campaigns by all parties in their bid to woo the electorate.

The NGOs and civil society groups said they decided to monitor hate speech because they realised that come every general election, marginalised communities tended to get the short end of the stick.

At a joint media conference, the representatives of the NGOs and civil society groups said they were making recommendations to the state, the Election Commission (EC), relevant authorities, political parties, election candidates and the media for a clean fight for GE15.

“The government and the EC must issue a public statement prohibiting intolerance, discriminatory stereotyping and incitement to hate on the basis of race, religion, royalty, sexual orientation and gender identity, as well as remarks targeting refugees and the migrant population.

“Any legal measures adopted by the state in combating incitement and hatred must be impartial and adopt the three-part test on restrictions to freedom of expression – legality, proportionality and necessity,” said the joint media statement.

It further stated that the government must not be complicit in acts that would incite hate towards “specific vulnerable and marginalised communities”, especially in conducting raids, arrests and detention of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender/transsexual, intersex and queer/questioning (LGBTIQ), refugee and migrant communities.

It added that the EC must issue specific guidelines to the media on reporting of the election and guarding against hate speech, with an independent body set up to monitor possible violations.

“Political parties should adopt and enforce ethical guidelines in relation to the conduct of their candidates, representatives and campaigners, particularly with respect to public speech and incitement to hatred,” said the statement, which also included recommendations to the media on how to avoid hate speech in their reporting.

The joint statement was issued by over 10 NGOs and civil society groups including the Centre for Independent Journalism (CIJ), Justice for Sisters, Beyond Borders, North-South Initiative, Asylum Access Malaysia, Komas, Sisters in Islam, Tenaganita, University of Nottingham and Universiti Malaysia Sabah.

At the same event, CIJ announced that it would conduct a hate speech monitoring project during GE15.

“CIJ and partners expect hate speech and dissemination of disinformation to intensify, especially on social media, during GE15.

“Similar dynamics were at play during previous elections and when potentially destabilising events threaten those in power. They do so to advance narrow political interests that do not serve a democracy,” said Wathslah Naidu of CIJ.